Evidence: He created the universe out of nothing (John 1:1). He turned Lot’s wife into a pillar of salt (Genesis 19:26). He split the Red Sea (Exodus 14:22). He brought bread from the sky (Exodus 16:15) and water from a rock (Numbers 20:11). He slew 185,000 Assyrian soldiers to save his people (2 Kings 19:35). He caused ravens to bring his prophets food (1 Kings 17:6). He made the jar of meal and the cruse of oil keep on giving till the famine was over (1 Kings 17:16). He shut the lions’ mouths to protect Daniel (Daniel 6:22). He caused a virgin to conceive a child (Luke 1:31). He cleansed lepers (Luke 17:14) and healed the lame (Matthew 15:30) and gave sight to the blind (Matthew 9:30) and hearing to the deaf (Mark 7:37). He fed 5,000 with a few loaves and fish (Matthew 14:20). He raised Lazarus from the dead (John 11:43). He caused Peter to find a coin in a fish’s mouth (Matthew 17:27).

Can God handle this?

Needed by end of year: Church & Missions

Needed by end of year: Building

Received: Church & Missions

Received: Building

10/1/95

536,000

130,000

24,200

4,700

10/8/95

511,800

125,300

20,000

5,500

10/15/95

491,800

119,800

20,900

5,000

10/22/95

470,900

114,800

21,500

2,700

10/29/95

449,400

112,100

20,100

3,500

11/5/95

429,300

108,600

22,100

3,500

11/12/95

407, 200

105,100

21,700

3,800

11/19/95

385,500

101,300

25,100

3,300

11/26/95

360,400

98,000

The $360,400 that remains to be given for the church and missions budget commitments represents 30% of the years’ budget of $1,336,996. So in 11% of the Sundays in 1995 we need to give 30% of the year’s budget.

If you wonder how we stay in operation when we are $200,000 behind in our giving, the answer is that there was an unexpected bequest at the end of last year that enabled us to enter the year with a large cushion, which we hoped (and still hope) would be freed for other purposes.

Question: What shall we do?

Answer: Live and give by faith in future grace. In other words, trust that God will supply all your needs as well as all the church’s needs. This will free you to give according to his bounty. Then pray that he will do “exceedingly abundantly beyond all we can imagine.”

Thanks for bearing this burden with me,

Pastor John

John Piper (@JohnPiper) is founder and teacher of desiringGod.org and chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary. For 33 years, he served as pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota. He is author of more than 50 books.

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